1

Science of Walking around the College

Many of us take for granted that our College has such wonderful grounds i.e. it has an abundance of natural
plants and trees along with a simple way to navigate the various buildings.

Instructions
• Must have maximum of 3 students in each group
• Must have a metre ruler
• Need an exercise book plus a calculator

There is no need to begin with the first activity; you are free to start any of the activities

Find the shortest distance in steps ( normal steps), while staying on the concrete path from
the
a) Technology gates to the Library entrance door
Activity 1
b) From Senior Unit doors to the Library entrance door
c) From the Canteen door to the Library entrance door

Convert these steps into metres

Find how many lights tubes there are in the following Units
a) In the Senior Unit. YOU must work out how many lights in total this unit has
b) In the Middle Unit YOU must work out how many lights in total this unit has
Activity 2
c) In the Junior Unit YOU must work out how many lights in total this unit has

If each light fixture has two fluorescent tubes of 20 Watt each how many watts does each
unit use? ( Assume that each light fixture has two working tubes)

Visit the Science rooms. Count how many windows there are in the following rooms : D1-
D2-D3-D4-D5
You do not need to go inside the rooms, just look through the windows.
Activity 3 Can you estimate the total area of window for each room? Use your metre ruler
Which room do you feel will be the coolest room in summer?
Which room do you feel will be the warmest room in winter?
While you are in the Science rooms, work out the total number of tables each room has.
Again you do not need to go inside

In area E record how many trees and plants exist

Can you identify by name at least 5 plants. You might need to ask for help from teachers or
anyone else. ( i.e. seek help from the Gardner or the Principal)
Can you work out if the small pool in Area E has any fish in it? If there are fish can you
Activity 4
count how many and what type there are?
The tree in the middle of Area E is called a peppercorn tree. Can you describe it? Anything
unusual about its leaves and trunk. Try crushing the leaflets in your hand
The name of this tree is really: Schinus areira

Visit the area between Senior Unit and the library. You will notice a bunch of clipped trees,
called sheoaks. Obtain a sample of 10 leaves. Measure the length of each leaf
a) What is the average length of each leaf?
b) Would it matter where you obtained the leaves? In other words will the length of
the leaves change if you got them from the bottom, the middle or the top of the
Activity 5
tree?
c) Test your answer by obtain a small sample of leaves from different sections of the
trees.
d) Can you find information on sheoaks?
e) This type of tree is often found near the beach. Do you notice anything unusual
about it?
 2

Students need to rest after having a good workout.

a) Record how many seats the College has
Activity 6 b) How many student could comfortable be sited in the College
c) Can you make any recommendations as to which area might need more seats
d) Show the location of seats on your general map of the College

Health experts say that a healthy adult would need to walk 10000 steps a day.
You are to design a walking trial around the school that would give you a total of 10000
steps
To help you find the number of steps of the following;
Activity 7
a) what is the perimeter of the school ( you must stay inside the school)
b) What is the perimeter of the tennis courts?
c) What is the perimeter of the soccer oval? ( next to the house)
d) What is the perimeter of the cricket oval? ( next to Science rooms)
e) Make sure you show clearly your walking trial

Go to the entrance of the Middle school. You will notice that some of the bricks have been
painted a shade of green. Imagine that if each brick weighs 1.2 kg , answer the following:
a) How many colored bricks are there?
b) What would the total weight of these colored bricks be?

Activity 8 Go to the area between the house and the gym. You will see a section of the gym wall that
has 3 murals of students outlines (yellow, purple and red). Once again you must do the
following:
a) Work out the height of the wall?
b) What is the width of the wall ( between the two brick pillars)
c) How many bricks are there?
d) If each brick weights 650 grams , find the total weight of the brick wall

Go to the notice board (Year 10 Middle school Timetable), next to the general office. There
is a plant called tea tree. You are to do the following:
a) Cut 10 small leaves.

Complete the table below: ( your table must go down to leaf 10

Activity 9 Leaves Width of leaf Length of leaf

1

2
b)
Draw an actual leaf. Can you find the area of the leaf in mm2

How many mature trees does the College have in total? ( mature trees have a height of 3
Activity 10
metres at least)

Information on plants can be found on the school intranet at the following location;

X:\User Info\Science\1Classes of Mr Dantas\Science Trail